Eight weeks after pleading guilty to kidnapping and sexual assault, a Boulder man is now attempting to withdraw his plea — but prosecutors say the move is merely the latest in a string of scheming behaviors the defendant has exhibited throughout the case.

Leif Goehringer, 48, filed a motion on June 10 to undo the deal he struck April 21, when, in exchange for his pleading guilty to the two felonies, prosecutors dropped two sexual assault charges, plus counts of unlawful sexual contact, third-degree assault and menacing.

The charges stem from a September 2012 incident in which Goehringer allegedly went out with a 26-year-old woman, then got into an argument with her when she said she wanted to go home.

She told police Goehringer forced her into a van in the 900 block of Gillaspie Drive in south Boulder, and proceeded to sexually assault her.

Goehringer's change of heart as to his plea came just days after hiring a new attorney — his fourth in a year.

That attorney, Englewood-based Rob Biondino, said Tuesday that the withdrawal motion was motivated, above all, by a "great defense."

Biondino added that the woman Goehringer allegedly kidnapped and assaulted "made some admissions to a couple people" that he feels could sway the case.

Goehringer was set to appear Tuesday for sentencing, though that now has been postponed due to the pending motion.

Biondino said his client's constant shuffling of lawyers shouldn't be read as manipulative.

"When you're dealing with a heavy duty case like this guy is, sometimes you're not comfortable with the horses you're riding," Biondino said. "I don't believe the other attorneys did anything wrong, but I really don't know."

Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett said such withdrawal motions are rare, but do occur several times a year. They are generally most successful, however, when it can be proven that defendants were not properly advised by their lawyers or the court as to the consequences of their pleas, and the rights they waive by taking such deals.

VanNice made clear Tuesday that her response to the motion will contend that Goehringer pleaded guilty knowingly and voluntarily.

"We have been frustrated that it's taken a while to process the case," Garnett said. "One of the things for prosecutors is to always try to make sure cases are resolved promptly ... We object to efforts to delay a case that we conclude are not legitimate."

VanNice has until July 3 to file a response to Goehringer's motion. Both sides are set appear in court July 10 before District Court Judge Andrew Macdonald, who will make a ruling on the withdrawal motion.

The delay in sentencing may also be an advantage to the prosecution, said VanNice, who on Tuesday told Judge Patrick Butler that Macdonald or Judge Thomas Mulvahill would be better suited to determine the sentence, as they, not Butler, presided over all previous hearings in the case.

After using a brief recess to consult with his colleagues, Butler agreed the case should be returned to Macdonald.

"That (VanNice) pushed so hard to get into a different courtroom," Biondino said after the hearing, "seemed very odd to me. What the judge knows about the case, really, is not as relevant as it should be in this situation.

"I'm just arguing the defendant has a great defense. That should be enough."

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